ABB India has restored and modernised the critical 1,035 MW Sharavathi hydropower plant in Karnataka that accounts for 25 per cent of Karnataka Power Corporation’s generation.

The Sharavathi project with seamless integration of complete plant data, is an example of ABB’s future-ready technologies enabling the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and aligns with the government’s push for 24x7 reliable power for all with focus on smart power infrastructure and digitalisation.

Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL), the state-owned electric utility in-charge of Sharavathi, expected the renovation of its second largest generating station to take two years. Working round the clock, the ABB team, with support from KPCL management, helped restore the entire plant – comprising 10 units - in just six months.

The restoration and modernisation will help lower overall costs generally associated with higher capex and maintenance costs for individual systems such as advanced alarm management and remote communication with the state power grid and KPCL headquarters.

For restoring the crucial power infrastructure, the ABB has bagged the The India Smart Grid Foundation (ISGF) innovation award.

“Such projects will be key to realising the objective of India’s National Smart Grid Mission, for customers to reap the full benefits of digitalisation with seamless integration, thereby, contributing to reliable supply of electricity,” said Ahmad Khan, Vice-President, Power Generation and Water, ABB India Ltd.

“The award is a testimony to our customer focus and speed, complementing ABB’s next level automation platform with timely delivery and execution,” he added.